New Sabah opposition grouping is formed
Published on: Sunday, March 08, 2020
By: Hayati Dzulkifli and Sherell Ann Jeffrey
PENAMPANG: A new Sabah-based alliance has been formed with four political parties merging under Parti Gagasan Rakyat Bersatu Sabah (Parti Gagasan) led by former Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman. The signatories were Parti Hak Sabah (Hak Sabah) Protem President Datuk James Ligunjang, Parti Gagasan Rakyat Bersatu Sabah President Dr Ationg Tituh, Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri Sabah President Datuk Henrynus Amin, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) President Datuk Seri Wilfred M. Bumburing and Datuk Ewon Ebin representing former Upko leaders and members (pic).Under the agreement signed by the four party presidents including yet-to-be registered Parti Hak Sabah, they would unite under one platform, Parti Gagasan, irrespective of their ethnics, culture and faiths. The main struggle is to ensure the people of Sabah get to enjoy benefits from Sabah’s Independence through fair distribution and claiming and demanding all promises and agreements under Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) 1962 and Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) for Sabah.
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It was agreed that Parti Gagasan Rakyat Bersatu Sabah would not be disbanded so that it can be made a permanent party for the purpose of merging the parties involved subject to certain amendments to its constitution.
Parti Gagasan would be rebranded with a new name to be agreed on upon by all concerned and they gave their consent to accept and invite Anifah to lead the party (PGRS).
Anifah who is former Kimanis MP witnessed the signing at Kinsabina hall, here, on March 7. “Why we form this (new alliance) because we are not happy with what is going on. We do not agree with Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) and a lot of things.
“Therefore, we cannot let this to carry on. We must do something and we are going to do it peacefully,” said Anifah.
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Bumburing told reporters that three political parties – his Parti Cinta Sabah, Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri Sabah and Parti Hak Sabah – will merge into one party that is Parti Gagasan until a name for the party is decided later.
He said the three parties will be dissolved upon approval from respective Supreme Council members as they agreed to be under Parti Gagasan as the solid and leading party in the alliance.
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The members of the respective parties will be applying directly into membership of one party (Parti Gagasan).
“There are technical matters that need to be done such as conducting annual general meeting and procedures that we need to comply with.
“As for appointment of deputies, we are very flexible and willing to make sacrifices,” Bumburing said.
To a question, he said other opposition parties like Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Star are welcome to join them not on their terms but under Parti Gagasan’s terms.
Anifah said he believed they Star is in the process of consulting their members because the party need to be dissolved to merge (with the new pact/Parti Gagasan), eventually.
On approaching other parties, he said: “Usno president and deputy president are in the event and they have not spoken to them. They (Usno) may have expressed their interest.
“We are open because the whole objective (of the new pact) is to win the 15th General Election (GE15) to do what is right and proper.”Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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